Por Piedad Teatro's production of A Special Day, Ana Graham, Antonio Vega (Photo by Gabriel Bancora)
Miami New Drama is presenting three weeks of free theater by bringing back a production that it staged in 2016.
"The last year and a half has been extremely challenging especially for our community and just when we thought normalcy was around the corner. It seems like we have to wait a little bit longer. So, we at Miami New Drama decided that this next one is on us," said Michel Hausmann, co-founder and artistic director of the Miami Beach theater company based at the Colony Theater, in a video promoting the free offering.
Por Piedad Teatro's production of A Special Day, Ana Graham, Antonio Vega (Photo by Gabriel Bancora)
The production is "A Special Day," presented by Por Piedad Teatro. Set in Mussolini's Italy in 1938, the beautiful production tells the story of two neighbors and a chance encounter that radically changes their views on life, love, and politics as they forge a friendship over the course of one very special day. Performers use a piece of chalk and the power of the imagination to create this award-winning bittersweet human drama that has been performed in multiple theaters and renowned festivals around the world not only in Miami, but in New York, Edingburgh and Singapore.
As Miami New Drama prepares to launch its 2021-2022 season, featuring four world premieres, the award-winning company has decided to open the doors of the Colony Theatre for free for three weeks to welcome the community back to the theater, according to Hausmann.
"And it's completely free for you," Hausmann said, adding that patrons must reserve their tickets.
Por Piedad Teatro's production of A Special Day, Ana Graham, Antonio Vega (Photo by Gabriel Bancora)
Hausmann said the play is a perfect welcome back as it will remind audiences of the eternal power of hope after a difficult year and a half. “This is theater of the imagination, the kind of theater that invites the audience to actively participate and takes us on a journey that reminds us all why theater has existed for 3,000 years and why theater will continue to exist as long as humans inhabit the planet,” said Hausmann.
The play will be performed and directed by Ana Graham and Antonio Vega. Graham is a director, actor, translator, costume designer and the Executive Director and Founder of the Mexico based Por Piedad Teatro, where she has developed most of her work. Her past work includes Interiores (Interiors) by Woody Allen, Psicosis 4:48 (Psychosis 4.48) & Ansia (Crave) by Sarah Kane, Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, and Terror by Ferdinand Von Schirach.
“After so many months of not being able to be on stage due to the pandemic, we are thrilled to be here at the beautiful Colony Theatre doing what we love. It means the world to us to be able to share this story of love, friendship and personal growth,” Graham said.
Por Piedad Teatro's production of A Special Day, Ana Graham, Antonio Vega (Photo by Gabriel Bancora)
Vega is a director, actor, playwright and has served as the Artistic Director of Por Piedad Teatro since 2010. As an actor, he has performed in more than thirty plays, among which are: Shakespeare’s Othello and Titus Andronicus, Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, Privacidad (Privacy) by James Graham, and Los Baños (Ladies and Gents) by Paul Walker.
“We are two Mexican actors pretending to be Italian, doing a show in English. That would be really weird if it wasn’t because theater is all about imagination. Let’s pretend we’re Italians. Let’s pretend the theatre is an apartment building in Rome. Let’s pretend it’s 1938, Mussolini is in power and Hitler is visiting today. Let’s pretend we’re happy about it. And then, let us pose this question: Is fascism a political regime or a state of mind?” said Vega.
Performances for "A Special Day will run from Oct. 1 through October 17th at the Colony Theatre on Lincoln Road, complimentary tickets can be reserved at www.miaminewdrama.org or by calling the box office at 305-674-1040.
Shows run Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. through Oct. 17.
Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
